Inland Fisheries

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024

Tuesday, 9 April 2024

Questions (105)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

105. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his officials in the Inland Fisheries Division fully support the repugnant position of conserving and validating the presence of invasive/non-native freshwater fish such as pike in Lough Corrib SAC due to potential angling tourism revenue; if Fáilte Ireland has a veto over the application of the EU Habitats Directive when promoting catch and release angling for invasive/non-native freshwater fish present in Lough Corrib SAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14492/24]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

As previously reported to the Deputy, as Minister, I am concerned with the threat posed by the presence and spread of all non-native invasive fish species in Irish waters including that of Lough Corrib (SAC) and the impact they pose to our native fish populations' species and our ecosystems.

No organisation has a veto over the application of the EU Habitats Directive, which Ireland, like all Member States, is obliged to implement.

The management of any species in a particular fishery is an operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in which neither I nor my Department have any function. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries in relation to operational matters can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is [e-mail]